Lone Oak- After Big Sandy was not able to field a JV football team this week, the Lone Oak JV Buffaloes scrambled to find a replacement game to ensure our kids would have an opportunity to carry on the great moment generated from last week’s win vs. Winona. The Hughes Springs JV Mustangs brought the triple option offense into Buffalo Stadium and provided our young Buffaloes with a great challenge. Although they fought hard, the JV Buffaloes would find themselves on the short end of the scoreboard, 14-22.

Despite the loss, there were several bright spots provided by the Buffaloes’ offensive and defensive units. The Buffalo offense would start with the ball and attempt to open their first drive with a razzle-dazzle reverse play. Things didn't work out so well, and Lone Oak would fumble the ball on a poor exchange, gifting the Mustangs with an early offensive possession. With a short field to work with, the Mustangs would eventually punch the ball into the endzone on a powerful outside run by a Hughes Springs running back.

The Buffalo offense would respond very quickly with some explosive run plays on the legs of Peyton Jackson and Haydin Shires, who worked quickly down the middle of the field and into the endzone behind some great run-blocking by the Buffalo offensive line, led by Colton Baker, Nathan Florez, Alan Aguilar, Bryan Duran, and Brody Pean. Lone Oak would fail to secure two points on the conversion attempt, resulting in an early 6-8 deficit for the Buffaloes.

The rest of the game provided some back-and-forth action between the Buffaloes and Mustangs, as offensive yards were tough to come by for both teams due to a combination of offensive miscues and good defensive play. Jett Williams, Colton Baker, Nathan Flores, and Bryan Duran seemed to be all over the field for the tenacious Buffalo defense. Each of these players made critical defensive plays to give the Buffaloes an opportunity to seize the game in the closing minutes.

After the Lone Oak defense forced a turnover late in the fourth quarter on a Hughes Springs fourth and short play, the Buffalo offense would have one more opportunity to possibly tie the game with less than two minutes left on the game clock, no timeouts left, and about 70 yards to the endzone. With the odds stacked against them, quarterback Hayden Shires, and his receivers- including Wesley Hudson and Riley Rolen- would make several great plays to quickly get the Buffaloes into the redzone. Unfortunately, the Buffalo drive would eventually fall short on a turnover inside the 10 yard line, just short of the endzone. After a Hughes Springs kneel-down to close out the game, the Buffaloes would find themselves on the short end of a 14-22 thriller.

The Lone Oak JV Buffaloes fall to 1-2 on this young season before closing out non-district play on Thursday, September 19th, at Tioga against the JV Bulldogs. The boys have worked hard this week and are excited to get back on the field!